Nothing says “Goodbye, summer!” quite like a month’s worth of rain crashing down in just one day. Even with all that heavy rainfall, it can’t wash away the bright smiles left behind by the Great Big Walk for Herts. It’s been a September to remember with a husband and wife duo taking on two big challenges, a special visit to the Fire Station, not to forget a very generous donation from the kitman of Tottenham Football Club! Read on to find out what we got up to in September!
Great Big Walk for Herts
We did it, #TeamSPACE! We successfully completed the Great Big Walk for Herts! With 35 walkers, we covered an incredible 168.5 miles and accumulated a remarkable total of 336,000 steps combined – now that’s something to celebrate!
The team’s amazing efforts have racked up a whopping £6,265! Thanks to our fantastic charity partner, Helping Herts, that amount will be match-funded, skyrocketing to £12,530!!!
It was wonderful to see so many people out in full force, proudly wearing SPACE t-shirts. A special shoutout goes to Emma, Sarah, and Izzy, who each took on the half marathon walk individually – you are all stars!
An extended thank you to John from the Friends of Hertfordshire Way walking group for expertly leading us along the route. A true trooper, maintaining the pace and guiding everyone with ease.
A special thank you to our sponsors of the day:
Family SEND event at Watford Fire Station 🚒🔥💦
Watford Fire Station hosted a special SEND quiet hour event in partnership with SPACE, welcoming around 170 children and their families through the iconic big red doors.
Firefighters were standing ready to welcome and engage with our SPACE families. Children and young people, and their parent/carers were free to explore vintage fire trucks at the museum before swooping over to check out the latest fire engines, police van, and even an ambulance!
Super fun water targets and delicious smells of BBQ and ice-cream filled the air. Our sensory area was packed full of action as well with rolling, spinning, hiding, chilling, rocking, racing, exploring and balancing fun.
Fundraising spotlight: Tim and Alison
Husband and wife, Tim and Alison, swapped their cosy weekends for running vests and swimming caps! Why? Because they dove headfirst into fundraising challenges for SPACE.
A record number of runners took part in this year’s AJ Bell Great North Run, which saw tens of thousands of runners complete the famous 13.1 mile course from Newcastle to South Shields – Tim was among them! He shared:
“My family have benefited from their support and kindness. A fantastic charity run by wonderful people.”
Alison took on a slightly different challenge… involving open water! Under glorious blue skies in the capital, Alison swam one mile around the world-famous Serpentine lake in London’s Hyde Park completing Swim Serpentine 2024, the water temperature was around 16 degrees!
Congratulations to Tim and Alison for their fantastic achievements and raising an epic £1,462.50 to help us to continue empower and support families of neurodiverse children and young people.
The rain didn’t dampen our spirits at our SPACE activities
From hitting holes in one at Introduction to Golf, zooming around the hall while Roller Skating, enjoying fish and chips at Canal Boating, sharing laughs and catching up with friends at Girls Group, to letting our imaginations run wild at SPACE to Graffiti – it’s been a fun-filled month (as always!).
The fun didn’t stop there – check out the photos below to see what else our SPACE kids have been up to.
SPACE for Parent/Carers
September saw the start of a new term for our well loved support groups across Welwyn, Croxley, and St Albans. As we entered the new school year, our primary focus was on reasonable adjustments – including what they are, what to reasonably expect, how needs should be being identified and practical examples and scenarios. Come along to one of our upcoming groups.
A group of parent/carers also came together for a relaxed craft session, showcasing their talent through creative button art. It was a delightful experience, providing an opportunity to connect with others on similar journeys while engaging in creativity. Why not give it a go? Book now for November, you can view all our upcoming events and activities here.
Fundraising spotlight: Steve Dukes (Charlie Dukes Fund)
Steve Dukes, widely recognised as Kit man ‘Dukesy’ at Tottenham Football Club, hit the back of the net making a striking £2,500 donation to SPACE.
Steve set up the Charlie Dukes fund in memory of his late father, focusing on raising money for local charities. We are immensely thankful for Steve’s commitment and hard work, as well as for selecting to support us. The generous donations from Steve will support our weekly inclusive events and activities designed for neurodivergent children and young people, and their families.
First Steps
September saw the start of our popular First Steps course – a free 6-week course for Parents and Carers of Autistic children in the Early Years. We are currently two sessions into the 6-week schedule, where we are developing strategies and interventions to meet the unique needs of each family and their child. Check out all our upcoming workshops and courses here.
